How does Williams create a sense of tension and drama for the audience in this extract? (scene 4 monologue) (30 marks)

In scene 4, Williams build a sense of tension and drama for the audience, through Blanche's monologue about Stanley. Along with the inflammatory content of Blanche's speech, tension is also heightened by the sense of dramatic irony imparted upon the audience. The fact that we can hear what is being said, as well as knowing that Stanley can, unbeknownst to Blanche & Stella, hear her too. This makes the audience nervous in anticipation of how Stanley will react to being spoken about in this way. Since we know he is a particularly unstable and inflammatory character, we know that the end result could be bad for Blanche, a premonition that does come true at the end of the play.

In her monologue, Blanche constantly makes reference to animalistic imagery when referring to Stanley, a portrait of the character that Williams often uses. Blanche is by no means implicit in her reference to Stanley in the manner. She even opens her tirade with the phrase: "He acts like an animal, has an animal's habits! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one!" From this already offensive statement, she degrades him even further: "There's even something-sub-human-something not quite to the stage of humanity yet!" going on to say: "like one of those pictures I've seen in - anthropological studies!" These words, while harsh, paint a somewhat accurate view of Stanley, one which the audience are likely to sympathise with. The vivid images which Blanche uses really do cause the audience to view Stanley in a new light, and almost sympathise with her plight. Although it may have the adverse effect of causing the audience to grow to dislike Blanche, as some members of the audience may see her comments as over the top, or downright slanderous. However, as aforementioned, all of these thoughts and feelings are overshadowed by the anticipation of Stanley's reaction, with only the audience actually knowing he is there.


The sense of drama is heightened further by the content of Blanche's speech. At one point she even references the very first scene of play, where Stanley is introduced and when he throws the bloody meat package at Stella. "Bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle!" This is interesting, considering the fact that Blanche was not cited as being there to witness the event, yet offers a sense of connection to the members of the audience astute enough to notice. Blanche goes on to refer to the events of the night before, where Stanley hit Stella in his drunken stupor. "Maybe he'll strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you! That is, if kisses have been discovered yet!". The fact that she refers to the events of the previous night without hesitation shows a lack of empathy towards those most affected by the situation, choosing instead to continue her self-righteous tirade, without regard for anyone else.

John Mcrae Lecture Notes

1) - Introduction to 'A Streetcar Named Desire'

First performed in 1947, but less than 100 years after the American civil war.

North/South division. Williams' always sets plays in the South.

Also before SELMA, MLK & 'Civil Rights'

South (especially New Orleans) is like another country to Americans.

Important part of the localisation of the culture of Streetcar

Removed from 'Normal' America, American Literature and Traditions.

Establishing a 'new' America.

A tragedy. But the main character doesn't die.

Many layers.

Play transcends its 'cliché' interpretations.

Based around a 'disintegrating' concept of the old families of the South.

Tragedy of love & sex.

Culminates in an act of sexual violence.

Not seen as particularly sexual at it's time.

Tragedy of gender, roles and power & influence. Want and desire.

Original title: The Poker Game.

Poker in the play: a male, tribal, activity.

Exclusiveness to the masculinity in the play, and to how Blanche handles her femininity.

Audience expected to feel sympathy for Blanche.

Blanche's 'kindness of strangers' is the key quote of the play.
Catharsis - release of emotions of fear & pity
Williams wants to move drama on from its previous form.
Anti-tragedy

 2) Scene 1

Noticeable for the long stage directions. Important.

Gives clues as to the main themes of the play in the names.

Elysian Fields, Stella for Star, Blanche for White, Streetcar named desire.

Play moves from May - September. Play moves through a summer. Palpable heat.

Heat is key concept.

Many scenes take place in evening. 

Music, sound, presence of other people. 

Whole society encapsulated. Music, People upstairs, people in the street.

Communicating to all of the audience's senses.

First characters we see are not important.

White & Coloured, New Orleans more racially integrated than the rest of America.

NO French territory bought by America.

Traditional music of NO is Jazz.

Music serves as emotional undercurrent.

Getting a glimpse into a family home here in New Orleans.

Begins with 'overhearing' a conversation between two side-characters.

Setting up a scene before the main characters enter.

A play for atmosphere.

All at once: Stanley, Mitch & Stella. Established in concept of money relationship.

A scene of movement.

Movement & Stasis, key aspects.

Blanche is quiet and static by comparison.

Blanche - incongruous.

She doesn't know this society.

Moth and Flame.

Light v Darkness.

First lines key.

Colossal irony.

Journey of desire takes us past cemeteries and Elysian fields.

Set up to accommodate a stranger.

Constantly jars against the society, preventing her from assimilating.

Ownership & loss another layer.

Contrast between social life of the New Orleans people, against the lonely nature of Blanche.

Blanche is a character without a future, but with much of a past.

Contrasting French past society vs Multicultural.

Blanche scared of the noises around this society.

Pretends not to drink, yet that is completely untrue.

Audience knows through dramatic irony that she is an alcoholic.

'onstage people are sympathetic to alcoholics'

Relationship between B & STE well established.

'Long progress to the graveyard'.

Long Parade

in TW funerals are a 'prettification' of death

Blanche determined to find beauty wherever she can, even in death,

Stanley the 'new man of new America'.

'a stud'.

Alpha male, cock of the walk

Polish

Gender & Identity. 

gaudy seed-bearer

American society that believes in capitalism and multiculturalism.

'Archaic America is no more'.

Stanley Kowalski is the future, like it or not.

Power & Vulnerability established when B and STA meet.

Sex on Stage.

Tragedy encapsulated in the final scene.

3) - Scene 2 

Pickup of speed.

Documentation/paperwork.

dead hand of the past catching up with the future

Past = Papers

Future = Stella's baby.

Society that has stopped/been sold of vs a society that, even without money is moving on.

Blanche is a sexual character, but will not have children.

Not childless in a tragic way, but in an 'end of the line' way.

No future to offer a child.

'Epic Fornications' run in the family.

Blanche is the product of her family & history.

Whole play an analogy for a developing America.

Invited to see Stella in a very positive light.

Will stick with her choices, and try to be as loyal as she can to Blanche, but will stick with Stanley.

Blanche becomes a lost cause to the audience/reader.

Alive but dead.

How 'dead' is she?

Doesn't die, but latches on to the doctor & nurse.

Napoleonic code.

Old, French background still in use in the advancing America.

Blanche owns nothing. Hence why her body is so important to her.

She is fading.

'I was flirting with your husband'.

Flirts because it's the only thing she knows to do.

Thinks its what men 'want'.

Blanche is irresponsible.

Tries to make up for it by being 'pretty' and 'flirtatious'

Williams wants us to sympathize for B and not judge her a total failure.

Tragic nobility redeems her, despite everything falling apart.

4) - Scene 3

Poker Game

The possible title.

Masculinity. Violent, strong.

Steve's Joke is important.

inclusion of the word nigger is important.

Williams uses it to show the male joking.

The word would be used without thinking.

The joke is about priorities - sex over food, money etc

Mitch 'emerges' from the poker game.

B and M's first encounter is about physical needs.

gallantry - old fashioned

Echoes 'gone with the wind' Vivian Leigh, main female character in both.

America growing up. 

Poker game 'explodes into violence'.

Clash of masculine values.

STA & STE a whole new 'language' of relationships to Blanche.

Un-relatable to her.

5) - Scene 4

Scene runs on directly.

The following morning

'Choral chant'.

Like in Greek tragedy.

'Life goes on'

Blanche survives, despite her shortcomings.

Nature of the tragedy? 

- that she survives?

- that she will keep going?

- anybody else's tragedy?

Some critics see it as a tragedy of 'unfulfilled desires' symbolised by Mitch.

key word in scene 4 - desire

contrast between what the mind and emotions do.